Director of Recreation and Cultural Services

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.

The “Values, We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.

We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

Connecting Our Community Through Culture , Wellness and Recreation.

This position is responsible for the provision of strategic leadership and effective management of the Recreation and Culture Services department ensuring residents, visitors and community groups realize quality arts, culture, heritage, recreation, sport and activity living programs, services, facilities, spaces and events, through a combination of direct delivery, community development and 3rd party partnerships. Through strategic planning, project management, needs assessments, research, policy development, training and evaluation, the position oversees and aligns the department staff and volunteers in their delivery of programs, community development support, facilities and spaces and quality customer experiences. The Director participates as a part of the corporate senior management team, aligning, supporting, and collaborating on the planning and implementation of corporate and council priorities, projects, and initiatives. This position reports to the General Manager of Community and Protective Services.

This is a full-time, permanent position with an annual salary range of $136,572.80 - $162,344.00.

1. Strategic Management

• Ensure leadership aligns with the City’s Strategic Directions and Corporate Values.
• Develop and foster opportunities and an organizational culture that encourages respect, cross-functional cooperation, accountability, critical thinking, and supports creativity, and innovation.
• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of department programs, services, and facility operations to fulfill the community leisure requirements in accordance with the City’s strategic priorities.
• Lead the department in its efforts to maximize community development, engagement, and involvement in the delivery of diverse quality of life opportunities, through deliberate and strategic approaches.
• Research, analyze and provide innovation and best practice solutions to the Corporate Leadership Team on the delivery of recreation and culture service delivery.
• Identify major departmental issues, opportunities, policies, or programs that require review and/or enhancement and recommend appropriate studies or reviews to the General Manager of Community and Protective Services and Corporate Leadership Team.
• Actively participate in the review of the department’s organizational design with a focus on short-term and long-term strategic goals and identifying critical organizational activities and current areas of strength and weakness.
• Respectfully participate in and contribute effectively to organization-wide corporate, divisional, and inter-department planning.
• Prepare operating and capital initiatives for submission to the corporate plan, considering community and organizational needs, issues, as well as corporate and council priorities, in consultation with other sections and/or departments.
• Plan, coordinate, participate, contribute, and manage the Recreation and Culture Service department initiatives and objectives to align with the City's Corporate Plan and Corporate Culture Action Plan.
• Provide strategic Recreation and Culture Services advice to City Manager, City Council, leadership team and management on ongoing and emergent issues and opportunities.
• Lead the analysis of operational work processes on a section level and make changes to improve the workflow and service delivery provided by Recreation and Culture Services.
• Propose both short term and long-term action plans for change and processes for change management to the General Manager of Community and Protective Services.
• Participate in and develop professional networks and involvements to stay abreast of current trends, best practices, emerging issues, and available resources.
• Models’ professional behaviour that demonstrates political acumen, confidentiality, and other expectations of a municipal employee, complying with all relevant policies and procedures.
• Written and verbal communication demonstrates effective and professional skills.

2. Supervision & Staff Management

• Provide a high level of coaching, training, and mentoring to section staff in the achievement of their goals and projects on an ongoing basis, as well as through the performance management process.
• Manage the daily operations of Recreation & Culture Services, setting goals and expectations for the team, making decisions regarding staffing matters, stressing the importance of teamwork, ensuring the overall efficiency of the services provided by the team as a whole.
• Provide the leadership to ensure the efficient and effective ongoing operation of the programs and services provided by the section as well as continual evaluation and enhancements to programs, services, facilities, and their processes.
• Receive and investigate complaints or concerns relative to the delivery of section services and ensure appropriate information is provided or appropriate action taken, using tact and understanding.
• Plan, assign, supervise and evaluate the work of full-time, part-time, and casual and employees providing supervision, leadership, and performance planning.

3. Planning & Project Management

• Develop strategies that ensures a balanced approach to meet long term parks and recreation needs taking into account active recreation, passive community needs, arts, culture, heritage, and preservation of the natural environment, in addition to emerging/anticipated community priorities.
• Responsible for ensuring long term recreation, culture and parks plans and initiatives are in place organizationally that balances community needs with organizational expectations and are supported by greater corporate planning documents.
• Analyze and interpret data and identify key parks and facility planning issues, as well as project stakeholders during the planning process.
• Provide expertise on issues related to parks and open space development to support long-term strategic parks planning and short-term plan development and implementation.
• Play a key and active role in capital project planning and development.
• Lead planning exercises to develop and establish conceptual projects, support project implementation, and ensure the values and benefits identified conceptually are delivered within the final project, collaborating with project managers and sponsors across the organization.
• Design and implement programs and strategies to stay abreast of the community’s needs and expectations related to recreation, culture, and parks, and engage the community in meaningful consultation that identifies needs and priorities.
• Working with other departments, as required, utilize the International Association of Public Participation framework where possible, identify the public participation goal, and promise to the public, and techniques to achieve the goal for recreation and parks public engagement exercises.
• Develops, revises as appropriate and recommends user fees and community grant criteria, reviews and comments on community grant and/or services-in-kind applications/requests.

4. Partnerships and Public Relations

• Facilitate effective communications between community members and the City in response to changing and growing needs.
• Develop and foster relationships of all levels of government, community stakeholders and the public.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community, regional and provincial organizations to ensure coordination and for the optimum use of resources.
• Facilitate the effective communication between municipal and regional organizations, the City and other key stakeholders to exchange information of mutual interest.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, position statements and information sessions for staff, stakeholder groups and the City in facilitating discussion about recreation programs and activities.
• Establish and maintain relationships with various contractors, vendors, and suppliers.
• Represent the City on the regional, provincial, and national recreation associations and organizations.
• Oversees marketing and promotional efforts relating to recreation and culture and, where appropriate, liaises with the media.

5. Financial & Contract Management

• Oversees the planning and administration of the Recreation and Culture Services capital and operating budgets, facility operations, parks planning and community programs.
• Prepare operating and capital initiatives for submission to the corporate plan, considering community and organizational needs, issues, as well as corporate and council priorities, in consultation with other sections and/or departments.
• Manage effectively, the operating budget for the department, including external contracted services, and monitor approved expenditures within the departmental budget.
• Regularly analyze budget data to identify trends and improve cost effectiveness of organizational processes and practices; gather and organize credible data to make a business for change and additional resources.
• Prepare operating and capital initiatives for submission to the corporate plan in consultation with other sections and/or departments.
• Review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and, where required, take necessary corrective measures to remain within budget.
• Assists with annual market assessments in relation to fees and charges, and the development of operational policies and procedures.
• Review, approve and perform, where necessary, various accounting and financial procedures.
• Support the identification and application and reporting of applicable grants.
• Where appropriate, oversees the development, review, execution and management of department contracts and agreements, ensuring review from appropriate departments and that all terms are met.
• Recommends revisions and changes to contracts, negotiating terms in alignment with corporate direction, policies, and legislation.
• Act as a liaison and City representative for identified partner agreements, such as the Joint Use and Planning Committees, Spruce Grove Public library, The Tri-Leisure Centre, license to occupy, service agreements, construction agreements, etc.

6. Other Job Duties:

• Adhere to the City's established policies, procedures, and standards (written or implied), and any changes or modification which may vary from time to time as deemed appropriate.
• Completes all required forms, reports, processes in a timely, professional manner.
• Is proficient in all corporate software related to the position.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required with this position.
• Flexibility and adaptability to change on short notice is important.
• The position requires additional hours to effectively manage the issues and requirements that occur on a yearly basis.
• Performs other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Post Secondary Degree in Recreation Sciences, Physical Education, Business Administration, Arts Management, Fine Arts Administration, or other related programs that are equivalent.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of related experience, which includes five (5) years or more of in senior leadership. Equivalency of education and years of experience will be considered.
• Recreation and leisure program administration, management, and delivery.
• Arts and Culture program development and administration.
• Community Development, Strategic Planning and Public Participation.
• Understanding and interpretation of relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion awareness.
• Volunteer training, development, and recognition.
• Financial and contract management.
• Experience in recreation, culture, and parks delivery system in Alberta.
• Management and operation of recreation and culture facilities experience.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Sound organizational and time management skills.
• Effective public relations and public speaking skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Sound decision making skills and ability to respond to situations as they arise with minimal supervision.
• Stress management skills.
• Strategic planning skills.
• Facilitation and planning skills.
• Leadership skills to empower others.
• Work with little supervision.
• Maintain effective working relationships and ability to display tact and discretion.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• CPRA Professional Development Certification.

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS:

• Municipal experience.

COMPETENCIES:
Thinking & Acting Strategically - Forward-thinking. Sees the big picture and imagines the future. Links long-range visions, strategies, and concepts to daily work. Aligns personal actions and initiatives with customer needs, and with organizational priorities and direction. To think and act strategically requires an understanding of our organizational direction, as well as the internal and external factors that influence decision-making. Shapes and communicates the vision for the department and translates visions and strategies into departmental action plans.

Building Influential Working Relationships - Strengthening and developing working relationships and strategic alliances that are founded on ethics, trust, and guided by our corporate values of respect, leadership, accountability, communication, and integrity. Cultivates relationships that advance division goals and priorities.

Optimizing Performance & Results - Reaches for excellence for oneself, one’s team, and the organization. Determined and focused on achieving outcomes that align with organizational goals. Creates goals and priorities that maximize resources while using an enterprising, resourceful approach to deliver outcomes and achieve customer expectations. Maintains accountability for results. Develops and implements strategies that maximize the effectiveness of resources and improve results and outcomes.

Growing Talent & Workforce Capacity - Honouring the individual differences that make each person unique. Being curious and committed to listening, reflecting, and learning. Developing individual and workforce capabilities to enhance the organization’s capacity to accomplish strategic goals, enhance program and service delivery, and provide an exceptional customer/client experience. Contributes to a learning and teaching culture. Promotes the application of sharing and learning cross functionality as a means of developing capacity for the department.

Fostering Innovation & Steering Change – Creates an environment for transformation. Advances the City through improvement based on innovation and guides the associated change. Uses the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to produce new or improved programs and services to meet current and future needs of our customers, our organization, and our community. Manages the change process. Develops new approaches.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Criminal Record Check Clearance.
• Class 5 Drivers License.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Monday to Friday.
• Hours of Work: 8:30am to 4:30pm.
• Overtime may be required.
• Limited travel may be required.
• Working in an office environment.

IMPACT AND MAGNITUDE OF JOB (SCOPE):

• This position is responsible for the Recreation and Cultural Services operating budget of approximately $ 6.4 million with about $3 million in revenue.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Typically includes any or all the following: sitting, standing, walking, climbing, stairs, kneeling, manual dexterity, visual acuity/color vision.
• Lifting to 5kg (11lbs)

You must apply through this portal to be considered. We do not accept applications through other forums.

• Candidates may be interviewed as applications are received.
• Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

City of Spruce Grove

Community and Protective Services - Recreation and Culture

Jul 31, 2025

Aug 22, 2025 11:59 PM